Rocket Ranger
Platform: Commodore 64
Gametype: Undefined
_________________________

In the 1940s, the Nazis built a base on the moon and plan to use a mysterious substance called Lunarium to reduce people's intelligence. However, in the 21st Century time travel has been mastered, as have jet-propulsion backpacks, plus some cataclysmic weaponry and advanced code-breaking equipment. Thus, you are sent back in time to change the result of the war using this technology to find their five rocket factories and destroy the moon base.

The game fits the Cinemaware template closely, with a string of action sequences linked by cinematic animation sequences to set the scene. There's also a strategic element, as you move your spies around to gain information and avoid detection, and decide how much Lunarium to use at each stage of the game. Action sequences include hand-to-hand combat with a Nazi guard, and flying through the air shooting either hordes of enemy planes or the Zeppelin itself.

---

Trivia

The original Amiga version of the game has the most pictures, sound effects, digitized voices and animations of any version of the game. Various pictures, animations, etc. that were in the Amiga original didn't make it into ports to other platforms. 

Rocket Ranger was named #45 overall among the “150 Best Games of All Time” by Computer Gaming World Magazine (15th Anniversary Issue--November 1996).

The sci-fi plot for Rocket Ranger is centered around a base on the moon that the Nazis built.
Oddly enough, there are some crackpot people, among them a man named Vladimir Terziski, that claim that the Nazis really did build a base on the moon during World War II. 

One of the Game Over messages sees you remember your Grandmother telling you that "if God meant for us to fly, he would have given us wings". This was the famous quote of Rev. Milton Wright in 1903, 3 months before his famous sons Orville and Wilbur made the first flight. Before long, planes were in mass use - for more on this, check out Wings.

An alternate version was created for the Amiga where all references to Nazis and Germany were removed and replaced with a story of aliens invading Earth.

The end credits mention "Rocket Ranger 2", which has yet to materialize.

The NES version of the game omits all references to Nazis and World War 1 and changes the storyline to suit a science fiction plot: The year is 1990 and an alien moon appears. The aliens descend to earth and establish the country of Greater Leutonia (which happens to be where Germany is :) --Ed) as the first step on subjugating the world. Only the Rocket Rangers can stop them and eventually obtain the technology to build a rocket ship and destroy their moon.

Rocket Ranger is one of the few games that got code-wheel copy-protection right: You simply cannot play the game without the code wheel, and there is no way to "crack" the game because the code wheel is an integral part of gameplay.

---

Description from the packaging:

See the beautiful young daughter of a famous scientist held captive by a gang of godless Goosesteppers!
Only you can stop the Interplanetary spread of jet-propelled Nazi fascism!
A master race from outer space threatens the fate of the free world!
With the zapping of ray guns and the cries of Zombie Women Rocket Ranger brings back all the action, romance, thrills and spills of the Saturday morning serial! The action begins with an urgent message from the future... a future that saw the Nazis win World War II! An underground group of scientists in the 21st century risk their lives to send you a jet propelled rocket suit, ray gun, and secret decoder wheel. Skillfully used against a cunning and ruthless foe, these devices help you change history and save mankind!

Coin-op quality graphics and animation.
Digitized original music and sound effects.
Includes Secret Decoder Wheel! Not copy protected.
Easy to use controls.
Spectacular aerial dogfights and bone crashing fistfights!


http://www.mobygames.com/game/c64/rocket-ranger
